Seeing that even Shen Yang advocated for leaving Han Qian in Xuzhou to observe mourning and fulfill filial duties, Yang Yuanpu’s expression couldn’t help but darken. His chest felt as if weighed down by a massive stone, making it hard to breathe.
Fundamentally, it was because he lacked experience in political struggle.
When he learned that Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, and Han Daoming were escorting his mother consort back, he had only felt joy, only thought about maternal affection and filial devotion. When Lin Haizheng and Yuan Guowei rushed over to warn him that Zheng Yu had secretly met with Zheng clan kinsmen in the Left Vermillion Bird Army through the night, he hadn’t been alarmed. He had even rebuked Lin Haizheng and the others for spreading discord.
When Wen Ruilin, Zhou Yuan, and others suggested that the Dowager Consort participate in deliberations, he felt that since his mother consort had risked her life crossing through rebel blockades to reach Yueyang, he should naturally consult her opinions when handling Tanzhou’s military and political affairs. He ignored the objections of Shen Yang, Zheng Hui, Gao Chengyuan, and others.
When Wen Ruilin, Zhou Yuan, and the rest then suggested establishing a Provisional Bureau of Military Affairs, Provisional Censorate, and Provisional Six Ministries to be administered by Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Han Daoming, Han Daochang, and others, by the time he realized something was wrong, he had already lost the initiative. Even Zheng Hui, Gao Chengyuan, and Guo Liang no longer opposed Wen Ruilin and Zhou Yuan’s proposals.
The situation in Yueyang had transformed into what it was when Jiang Huo had escorted Princess Qingyang back, with Yao Xishui and Chun Shisanniang officially taking positions as female officials in the inner palace.
Upon learning of Han Qian’s return to Xuzhou, Yang Yuanpu had wished he could sprout wings and fly there to see Han Qian. But even when Princess Qingyang arrived in Yueyang, everyone used ritual propriety as an excuse to obstruct him from meeting her directly. How could he possibly have an opportunity to leave Yueyang to see Han Qian in Xuzhou?
Yang Yuanpu had hoped that Shen Yang and Gao Chengyuan would stand up to refute Zheng Chang and demand that Han Qian be recalled from mourning to resume duties. He never expected that Shen Yang would directly divert the topic to other matters.
How could this not leave him disappointed and dejected?
“What matters have been dragging on without resolution?” Yang Yuanpu asked listlessly.
Shen Yang straightened slightly in his seat and cupped his hands toward Prince of Tan Yang Yuanpu, saying:
“Han Daoxun was murdered over two months ago, yet the position of Xuzhou Governor has remained vacant for two months now. If we continue to let the Chief Clerk and Vice Administrator manage Xuzhou’s military and political affairs in an acting capacity, how can we convince people that the Provisional Ministry of Personnel effectively controls the prefectures and counties? If the prefectures and counties harbor doubts, I fear it will be detrimental to the suppression of the rebels.”
Currently, the Hunan Provisional Administration could directly control the five prefectures of Tan, Yue, Lang, Heng, and Shao. Due to the Zheng clan’s allegiance, it also had extremely strong control over Huang Prefecture, but its control over Chen Prefecture and Xu Prefecture was considerably weaker.
As for the outlying prefectures of Jiang, E, Hong, Gan, Jing, Xiang, Ying, and Sui, they were currently fence-sitting and watching, showing no clear inclination, let alone accepting orders from the Hunan Provisional Ministry of Personnel.
Never mind that Great Chu had only been established for a dozen years and had not yet taken deep root in people’s hearts—even after being passed down through several emperors, the relationship between central and local authorities was always subtly antagonistic.
The outlying prefectures and counties of the Hunan Provisional Administration were far from Jinling. Their neutral or dependent attitudes actually largely depended on the Hunan Provisional Administration’s own cohesion and strength.
Prefectures and counties without capability or strong figures to govern them had always been opportunistic fence-sitters and turncoats, yet these were precisely the ones that had to be won over first.
Winning the support and allegiance of more prefectures and counties meant being able to mobilize more money and grain, conscript more elite troops, and possess greater strategic depth and hinterland.
When Shen Yang now raised the need to quickly decide on the candidate for Xuzhou Governor, everyone found it both reasonable and rather abrupt.
Jiang Huo was also quite surprised at first hearing, not understanding why Shen Yang brought this up at this time. But seeing the shadow of gloom on Zheng Yu and the others’ faces, he suddenly understood. By raising this issue, Shen Yang wanted to see if Zheng Yu, Han Daoming, and the rest dared to openly break with Han Qian by appointing someone else as Xuzhou Governor.
If they didn’t dare appoint someone else to serve as Xuzhou Governor, yet also had to quickly decide on a new appointee for the position, they could only commission Han Qian to concurrently hold the governorship.
Leaving Han Qian in Xuzhou to serve as governor wouldn’t forcibly violate Han Qian’s wish to remain in Xuzhou for mourning. At the same time, it would foil the calculations of the Marquis of Xinchang and the Zheng clan to thoroughly suppress Han Qian using the mourning period and filial rites as pretexts.
If Jiang Huo hadn’t been able to meet with Han Qian these past few days and confirm that Han Qian had just returned to Xuzhou after traveling through mountains and rivers, he would have suspected that Han Qian and Shen Yang had secretly colluded in advance.
“Master Shen speaks reasonably. The candidate for Xuzhou Governor must be determined immediately and can no longer be delayed indefinitely. Han Daoming, you’ve newly assumed the position of Vice Minister of the Provisional Ministry of Personnel. Recommending candidates is the Ministry of Personnel’s responsibility. Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend for everyone’s deliberation?”
Yang Yuanpu had been taught by Shen Yang for many years and immediately understood. His spirits lifted, his young and spirited eyes fixed on Han Daoming as he asked.
“Although the late Emperor personally promised before the Chongwen Palace that the Han family would hold the Xuzhou Governorship hereditarily, the current circumstances are special. Considering that Han Qian needs to observe mourning, when you recommend candidates, Administrator Han, you need not necessarily think of Han Qian.”
Han Daoming’s expression was somewhat ugly. The so-called imperial favor granted before the Chongwen Palace hadn’t been formalized as an edict and could be disregarded. As head of the Han clan, he could even decline such a reward on Han Qian’s behalf. But if they now truly sent someone else to assume office in Xuzhou, only to have that person driven out, detained, or simply killed by that Han Qian fellow, who dared imagine the consequences?
However, should they really hand the position of Xuzhou Governor directly to Han Qian now?
“Han Qian is only twenty-three years old—isn’t leading a prefecture’s military and political affairs too young?” Wang Chan’er sat behind the curtain. Seeing the silence in the hall, she spoke in a muffled voice.
“The late Emperor promised the Han family hereditary control of the Xuzhou Governorship, but he didn’t specify that after Han Daoxun, it must be Han Qian who assumes the position. Old Duke Han is too advanced in years—we cannot trouble him with such laborious concerns, as that would only further violate filial propriety. Minister Han administers the Provisional Ministry of Personnel with great responsibility and cannot easily leave. Perhaps we could invite Administrator Han Daochang to Xuzhou to manage military and political affairs?” Shen Yang looked toward Han Daochang sitting across from him with what seemed part suggestion, part inquiry.
Shen Yang wasn’t as skilled in calculation as Han Qian or Wang Wenqian, nor did he possess Zheng Chang’s quick wit. This caused him to lose the initiative at every turn after Zheng Chang and Zheng Yu escorted the Dowager Consort to Yueyang.
Of course, he also worried that Han Daoxun’s death might make Han Qian’s machinations even more subtle and ruthless. But after the Dowager Consort, Zheng Yu, and Han Daoming had been here just a few days, they were already overstepping their bounds. Perhaps only Han Qian could make them feel some trepidation?
Shen Yang didn’t want to be a soft persimmon for anyone to squeeze. His eyes fixed on Han Daochang, if Han Daochang truly had the courage to go to Xuzhou and face Han Qian, he as Left Administrator of the Provisional Administration wouldn’t mind signing and sealing such an appointment.
Han Daochang’s expression was dejected. He truly lacked the courage to go to Xuzhou and meet Han Qian. Stammering somewhat, he said to Yang Yuanpu: “Daochang has shallow qualifications and no merit in governance. I’m inadequate for such a weighty responsibility. Please Your Highness select another worthy person.”
Yang Yuanpu looked toward Zheng Yu and Zheng Chang.
Zheng Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Zheng Chang shook his head slightly toward him, signaling him not to express an opinion rashly.
Yang Yuanpu saw the hall fall into silence with no one speaking. He turned back to look at the figure behind the curtain that already felt somewhat unfamiliar to him and asked: “Mother, what do you think?”
Wang Chan’er fell silent behind the curtain for a while before saying somewhat reluctantly: “Since the late Emperor intended this when he was alive, and Han Qian has labored with great merit, this dowager cannot chill the hearts of meritorious officials. You may decide as you think best.”
Jiang Huo hadn’t expected this matter to be settled so smoothly. He was quite surprised, not knowing whether the Dowager Consort had changed her mind and truly thought of the Han father and son’s contributions, or whether the attendant ladies like Yao Xishui serving beside the Dowager Consort had just persuaded her of something.
Separated by a curtain and at a considerable distance, he couldn’t see clearly what was happening behind it.
Jiang Huo was about to ask how the matter of Princess Qingyang should be handled when he heard the Dowager Consort yawn behind the curtain and say: “We’ve deliberated so long today, this dowager is also tired. This dowager sees that all you ministers have labored day and night and are quite fatigued. Whatever other matters there are, let’s discuss them another day…”
“We receive the Dowager Consort’s decree.” Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Han Daoming, and others spoke in unison, all agreeing to temporarily end today’s deliberations.
Yang Yuanpu was also quite helpless. He could only keep Jiang Huo alone to inquire about more detailed circumstances regarding Princess Qingyang and Han Qian’s return to Xuzhou.
……
……
“What? Leaving Han Qian in Xuzhou to observe mourning and having him concurrently serve as Xuzhou Governor? Lords Zheng Yu and Zheng Chang expressed no objection?” Han Jun and Han Duan had accompanied them to Yueyang and were temporarily only granted low-level positions as functionaries. They weren’t qualified to attend tonight’s deliberations and had remained at the residence waiting for Han Daoming and Han Daochang to return. Only now learning what had transpired tonight, they were especially shocked.
Shen Yang had a teacher-student relationship with Han Qian and had always served under Yang Yuanpu’s command—his planning for Han Qian wasn’t hard to understand. They themselves shared the same lineage as Han Qian, making it easy for Shen Yang to exploit this point, so they couldn’t too strongly oppose Han Qian assuming the Xuzhou Governorship. But Han Jun couldn’t understand why Zheng Yu and Zheng Chang hadn’t opposed it.
Even if no one was willing to go to Xuzhou and face that troublemaker Han Qian, they could still keep delaying the appointment of a new Xuzhou Governor.
“Zheng Chang didn’t want Zheng Yu to take a position. Perhaps they mainly don’t want Han Qian coming to Yueyang, yet also don’t wish to truly tear off the mask with Han Qian?” Han Daoming said with a gloomy expression. “But because of Zheng Yu and Zheng Chang’s silence, the Dowager Consort also found it inconvenient to strongly object, so this matter was easily accomplished by Shen Yang.”
“The Zheng clan is different from us after all. We should be closer to Administrator Chai and Vice Minister Zhou,” Han Jun pondered for a moment before saying to his father. “Father should also take opportunities to remind the Dowager Consort of this point.”
Han Daoming nodded and asked his second brother Han Daochang: “What do you think?”
“The Zheng clan was originally a powerful family from Jing and Xiang, controlling Huang Prefecture for a long time. Besides Zheng Yu and Zheng Chang, they have a large group of outstanding civil and military talents like Zheng Hui, Zheng Xingxuan, and Zheng Xingtong under their command. Their clan soldiers are quite formidable in battle, so they naturally have less fear of Han Qian. So Han Jun speaks reasonably—even though we escorted the Dowager Consort to Yueyang together, the Zheng family’s intentions may not truly align with ours. Whether the Dowager Consort can understand this principle, I don’t know. Perhaps it’s truly necessary to remind her.” Han Daochang agreed with Han Jun’s assessment.
“I think that now the title of Xuzhou Governor is settled, Han Qian has even less excuse to come to Yueyang—this isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Han Jun said. “Han Qian’s mind is somewhat subtle and ruthless, but beyond that, there may not be much to worry about. Perhaps letting him flounder in Xuzhou for three or four years and squander the foundation Third Uncle left him, we’ll have even less to worry about…”
“That’s also true. Without Third Uncle paving the way for him, how could he have stirred up so much trouble these past years?” Han Duan also believed deep down that Han Qian’s favor and importance with Prince of Tan Yang Yuanpu was more because he benefited from his father Han Daoxun’s glory. Han Qian himself was merely somewhat subtle in calculation and ruthless in methods.
“…” Han Daoming nodded, then looked at his legitimate eldest son with considerable satisfaction and said: “Han Jun, your thinking is becoming more mature day by day. When the Dowager Consort selects her ceremonial guard and palace guard, you could perhaps serve at the Dowager Consort’s side. Then among our Han family’s younger generation, we’ll truly have someone who can stand independently.”